Mike Ashley has just made a huge admission about a potential takeover when speaking with Sky News tonight, stating that talks are at a more progressed stage than they have ever been ahead of a potential sale before the new year.

Ashley also insists that he would like to sell the club (‘if it’s the right buyer’), saying that he is ‘hopeful’ that he’ll be able to step aside and allow another owner to come in who can ‘please everybody’.

Here’s what he’s just said:

"It's possible" – Mike Ashley says he is in talks to sell Newcastle United in a deal he hopes will go through before the January transfer window

“Talks to sell Newcastle United are at a more progressed stage then they’ve ever been. It’s possible that I could sell the club before the January transfer window. I’d like to do that, if it’s the right buyer.”

“I am hopeful for the Newcastle fans, for the club, for everybody, that I will be able to step aside and we will be able to get an owner in that will please everybody”

It’s positive to hear and it gives us all renewed hope, but let’s not get carried away.

It’s a massive contradiction from Ashley, who stated recently that a takeover would not be played out in the media, yet it seems to me him that he has went out of his way to say this to Sky news – just a few days before the planned boycott of the Wolves game.

I’m naturally cynical, but fingers crossed!

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